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BMC Psychiatry

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research article

Predictors of help-seeking behaviour in people with mental health problems: a 3-year prospective community study

Authors: Carolin M. Doll, Chantal Michel, Marlene Rosen, Naweed Osman, Benno G. Schimmelmann, Frauke Schultze-Lutter

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

The majority of people with mental illness do not seek help at all or only with significant delay. To reduce help-seeking barriers for people with mental illness, it is therefore important to understand factors predicting help-seeking. Thus, we prospectively examined potential predictors of help-seeking behaviour among people with mental health problems (N = 307) over 3 years.

Methods

Of the participants of a 3-year follow-up of a larger community study (response rate: 66.4%), data of 307 (56.6%) persons with any mental health problems (age-at-baseline: 16–40 years) entered a structural equation model of the influence of help-seeking, stigma, help-seeking attitudes, functional impairments, age and sex at baseline on subsequent help-seeking for mental health problems.

Results

Functional impairment at baseline was the strongest predictor of follow-up help-seeking in the model. Help-seeking at baseline was the second-strongest predictor of subsequent help-seeking, which was less likely when help-seeking for mental health problems was assumed to be embarrassing. Personal and perceived stigma, and help-seeking intentions had no direct effect on help-seeking.

Conclusions

With only 22.5% of persons with mental health problems seeking any help for these, there was a clear treatment gap. Functional deficits were the strongest mediator of help-seeking, indicating that help is only sought when mental health problems have become more severe. Earlier help-seeking seemed to be mostly impeded by anticipated stigma towards help-seeking for mental health problems. Thus, factors or beliefs conveying such anticipated stigma should be studied longitudinally in more detail to be able to establish low-threshold services in future.

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Title: Predictors of help-seeking behaviour in people with mental health problems: a 3-year prospective community study
Authors: Carolin M. Doll
Chantal Michel
Marlene Rosen
Naweed Osman
Benno G. Schimmelmann
Frauke Schultze-Lutter
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03435-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Predictors of help-seeking behaviour in people with mental health problems: a 3-year prospective community study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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